Efficacy of Topical Atropine Eye Drops for Control of Myopia Progression Among Children Attending Mansoura University Ophthalmic Center

Overview

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose topical atropine sulphate (0.05%), a non-selective muscarinic antagonist, in slowing the progression of myopia and ocular axial elongation in children. The study will be conducted at Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura University, Egypt, from October 2025 to october 2027. Eligible participants are myopic children attending the outpatient clinic during the study period. Participants will be stratified into three groups according to baseline myopia severity (low, moderate, and high). Each child will be randomized to receive one drop of atropine 0.05% in one eye and one drop of placebo in the fellow eye nightly for 24 months. The allocation of treatment to right or left eye will be randomized to avoid laterality bias. Study Outcomes * Primary Outcome o Change in ocular axial length (AL) from baseline to 24 months, measured with a NIDEK AL-scan optical biometer (average of five readings within a deviation of ≤0.05 mm). This parameter was used for sample size estimation. * Secondary Outcomes * Change in spherical equivalent refraction (SER), measured by cycloplegic autorefraction using a Topcon KR-800 autorefractor after standard cycloplegia with cyclopentolate 1%. * Best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCVA). * Sample Size The primary endpoint of this trial is the change in ocular axial length (AL) over 24 months, analyzed as a paired comparison between the atropine-treated and placebo-treated eyes within each child. Sample size estimation was based on previously published data reporting mean axial elongation of 0.115 ± 0.11 mm in atropine-treated eyes compared with 0.303 ± 0.12 mm in placebo-treated eyes, yielding a mean difference of 0.188 mm. Assuming an inter-eye correlation of 0.6, the standard deviation of the paired difference is estimated at approximately 0.10 mm, giving an effect size of d = 1.88. Using a two-tailed paired t-test with α = 0.05 and 90% power, the minimum required sample size is 12 children.

Interventions

• Drug Atropine 0.05% Eye drops
  The randomized eye will receive one drop of atropine sulphate 0.05% nightly for 24 months.
• Drug Placebo ophthalmic solution
  The fellow eye will receive one drop of placebo (vehicle solution without active drug) nightly for 24 months.

Primary outcome measures

• Change in ocular axial length (AL) [Time frame: 2 years]

Secondary outcome measures (2)

• Change in spherical equivalent refraction (SER [Time frame: 24 months]
• Best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCVA). [Time frame: 24 months]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Myopia of at least -1.0 D in both eyes, astigmatism of less than 2.0 D, anisometropia of objective spherical equivalent ≤ 1.50 D.
• Documented myopic progression of at least 0.5 D in the past one year.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with ocular or systemic diseases that potentially influence myopia or refractive power.
• Ocular diseases, e.g., cataracts, glaucoma
• Posterior segment hereditary and acquired pathological disorders.
• History of any previous ocular surgery.
• History of any ocular injuries.
• Previous use of interventions (such as atropine, pirenzepine, orthokeratology lens, or other optical methods) for myopia control
• Allergy to atropine, cyclopentolate or benzalkonium chloride

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Triple blind

Primary purpose

Prevention

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07164092 · Atropine ED for Myopia in MOC

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗